Combination ironer and wringer



n A. w. zEMAN COMBINATION IRONER AND WRINGER sept'. 2s, .1937.

Filed Dec. l, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEY Sept.'28, 1937. A.-w. .ZEMAN4 l COMBINATION IRONER AND WRINGER Filed Dec. 1, 193s 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYJ.

' Patented Sept. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE z,os4,1e4

coMnnvlmoN moNEa AND wnINGEn 'Antoinette' w. zemn, cleveland,` ohio `Application December 1, 1933, Serial No. '100,460

3Ciaims.

This inventionrelates to laundry machines and has for its object to provide machines -of this character with means whereby one of the rolls as usually employed for a wringing operation may be conveniently removed and replaced by a roll suitable for an ironing operation, and whereby the latter roll may be in turn interchanged with the former roll for a subsequent wringing operation.

Some power-driven domestic laundering machines have, in combination with the washing mechanism, a power driven set of wringer rolls. These are generally mounted in a frame, which in turn is mounted on a vertical shaft attached to the side of the washing machine, power to the rolls being transmitted by means of this shaft. Until a. short while ago, most of these wringer frames were permanently attached to the driving shaft of the washing machine; and separate machines were sold. for use in ironing the clothing.

Recently, there have appeared on the market machines in which the 'entire wringer frame could be detached from the vertical shaft; and

provision is made on these machines for fixing on the shaft an electrical ironing machine. This type of machine has a decided economy over the old type, in that only one power drive need be purchased for washer, wringer and ironer; but it 80 has several disadvantages. The necessary weight of the wringer and ironer mechanisms, complete with their frames, makes the change a difficult task for the average housewife or laundress; and the ironing must be done at wringing level (above 36 the wash machine wash-tubs) necessitating the use of 'a high stool, unless the operator desires to work standing up.

With the view of eliminating these disadvantages, I have preparedv a machine which can be 4 converted from a wringer to an ironer merely by changing a single roll, the driving roll being used both as a wringing and an ironing roll. I have furthermore so designed my machine than the frame carrying my rolls is vertically adjustable, permitting the operator to iron at any desired level within the capacity o! the machine. The roller frame has the further advantage of being open at one end at least, so that fancy iron- 50 ing may be done successfully.

A preferred form of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of my improved ironer and wringer shown as being attached'to a-side I5oi'awashtuboiawashinilmachine.

Figure 2 is a top view of the same machine, with the upper shaft bearing removed.

F1Figure 3 is an end view of the upper part of g. 1. Figure 4 is a section taken on line l-I in4 Fig. 1, showing a journal informed condition and the cam holding it so.

Figure 5 is a section along the linesA 5-5 in Figurel 1, showing the casing and its bearing and the shaft therein. l

Figure 6 is a section along the lines in Figure 1, showing one kind .of a brush and the mechanism for conveying electric current for heating the ironing roll.

Figure 7 is a partial view of the ironer and wringer frame, partly in section showing the mechanism forrelating the roll frame to the casing.

Figure 8 is a side view of the roll-frame, on a larger scale, partly in section, and shows one of the roll journal bearings as being open or deformedand a roll as being tilted for insertion and removal thereof and also shows the cams on the handle for forming of the journal bearin and for permitting deforming thereof.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the tiltable, grooved roll.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a clothl covered roll.

Figure 11 is a fragmental section along the line ii-ii of Figure 1. i Figure 12 is a fragmental view of the lower part of the casing, partly in section to show the lower end of the casing engaging in the collar more clearly.

Figure 13 is a transverse section along the line Iii-I3. of Figure 1 showing connection of the casing and roll-frame and the roller drive means. f

' Referring to the drawings, I weld or otherwise secure to the bottom of the tub portion of a washtub (I) a bearing bracket and gear housing (2) .the top portion of which is in the form of a. cylindrical collar (3). A cylindrical casing (l) is centralized in the collar, which acts as a bearing and an endwise abutment for the lower end of the casing. At the top of the tub,

in vertical alignment with the` collar (3), is a support or bearing bracket (5),. A split collar bearing (6-6') is riveted or welded to the support; the casing has a diametrically reduced portion (1) which fits this bearing. On assembling the machine, the casing is fitted into the collar (3), and the bearing (86') is then afiixed to the support (5) at the dlametrically reduced portion. An opening (l) extends the entire 55 tiltable,

mitting of ironing at any desired height. 'In the at the top of the casing. It is driven by gearing (I6) driven by a. power shaft (I1) connected to the washing machine motor; .or it may be driven by any suitable driving mechanism. -The shaft (I4) has gear teeth cut therein extending from the lower bearings (3) and;up beyond the bearing (5) meshing into the below described gears.

A roll-frame (I8) is mounted on the casing (4). For the purpose of adjustably and yet rigidly mounting this'frame, vertically aligned indentations (I9) are provided in the casing, and bolts (20) operated by thumb screws (2|) lock the frame in any desired vertical setting, thus perupper portion of theroller; frame is ixedly mounted a stainless steel roll `(22) fixed in bearings (23). Gearing (24) connects the roll to the .shaft (I4). Removable plates such as the plate V(25) shown are provided about the gearing to permit of inspection and servicing.

In the roll (22) are three electric heating elements (26) (26|), and (262) of any conventional design electrically insulated from the roll. Each of the heating elements has one end of its winding connected to the common lead line (263) which is connected to the collector ring (21) having the brush (28) bearing thereon and being connected to the line (28|) forming a part of the circuit of a source of electricity. Each of the heating elements has the other end of its winding connected to individual lead lines. Line (264) leads from the element (262) .tothe co1- lector ring (29) which is contacted by the brush (29|) connected to the line (292) forming a part of the electric circuit of the source of electricity and the switch (302) is interposed in the line between the collector ring (29) and the line (292). Line (265) leads from the element (26|) to the collector ring (294) contacted by the brush (295) connected to the line (292) with the switch (36|) interposed in the connecting line. Line (266) leads from the element (26) to the collector ring (261) contacted by the brush (266) connected to the line (292) with the switch (360) interposed in the connecting line.

With this line and switch arrangement, any one of the heating elements can be switched in or out individually to heat the element as desired with most heat produced at either end of the roll or at the middle. Various combinations of heat production in the roll can be effected by this switch arrangementvk 'Ihe collector ring Tand switch arrangement shown i'n'Flg. 6 or any other convenient structure, may be used for leading electric current to and from the heating elements, Electric current maybe brought to the switches by an ordinary electric cable connected to an 'electrical outlet, or, if desired, be connected to The casing may thus be ro-' (33) and (33'), one preferably of compressible rubber and corrugated on the outer surface thereof and being a wringer roll, another similar roll, preferably of incompressible material, and being an ironer roll, have diametrically reduced ends (34) journaled in bearings mounted on the roll-frame as shown and have the shoulder (34|) to prevent endwise movement of -the roll when the journal is assembled. Each of these bearings is shown as composedof two parts (35 and 36) the latter parts being movable to form and to deform the journal bearings therein for insertion and removal and exchange of the rolls (33) and (33').

'I'he springs (31) abut the corresponding bearing parts (36) and, when compressed, keep the bearings in journal forming condition. The keeper plates (38) abut the corresponding springs (31) 'and are abutted by the cams (40) on the ends of the levers or arms (39) which are pivoted through which the bolts extend, being secured in their adjusted positions by means of the thumb screws (43).- The normal pressure between the rolls (22 and 33) may be varied by varying the position of the pivot bolts (4|).

.'I'he handle (44) pivoted to both arms (39) by means of the pins l(45). acts as a means for manually releasing the springs and the parts (36) of the bearings for deforming the journal bearings therein and for forming the journal bearings upon corresponding axial movement of the handle (44). This deforming of the bearings permits either of the rolls (33) and (33') to be tilted for insertion or removal thereof.

The bracket (46) has one end thereof journaled on the shaft (I4) and the other end thereof is forked to straddle the shaft of the roll (22) and abut the outer end of the upper bevel gear (24) to keep the latter in mesh with its co-driving bevel gear. 'I'he forked part of the bracket (46) as well as the journal part thereof may be made integral with the roll frame (I8).

I'hesprings (31) are of wide range of activity so that the bearing parts (36) can be moved a considerable distance for release andinsertion of the roll (33). The cam tops (40) ne'ed not be of large eccentricity since the same are usedy only for final location of the bearing parts (36). For separating the bearings parts (35) and (36) the bolts (4|) and the levers (39) are first released as seen in Fig. 8 with the levers pulled way back. The roll (33) is then tilted whereby-the bearing parts (36) are moved away from the bearing parts (3l) and this moving is continued manually until the bearing is suiiicientlyseparated to move `the roll (33) `endwise and tilt the same for reened and the levers (39) moved a little further to cause the cam to lock the bearing parts (35 and36) for journal forming.

When the machine is to be the rubber roll (33) is used, and no heat is applied to the roll (22). As the frame (I8) can be rotated, andflocked in a series of positions, the device can be used for wringing in any desired position above the tub level, in a manner similar to the wringers commonly in use at present. The wringing is done between the upper stainless steel roll, and the lower rubber roll; because of the springs (31) and the normal .Pressure adjustused as a wringer,

ment, the use ofthe steel roll does not cause undue breakage of buttons, etc., as would be the case with rigid rolls.

When ironing is to be done by the device, the handle (M) is shifted, and the cloth covered ironing roll (33') replaces the rubber roll., The ironer is now vertically adjusted to any position permitted by the identations (I9) The heat may be turned on to any desired degree by the switches By regulating the heat in the heated roll, the ironing may be accommodated to different types of laundry. The normal pressure between the rolls, which may be varied by varying the compression of the springs (Il), determines the arc of contact (caused by the attening of a part of the cloth roll); this has a very definite bearing on the amount of ironing done, and is another method of control which may be used by the operator.

It is apparent that this combination is much more economical than the machines now in use;

only one additional roll, and 'some wiring, is needed to add the ironer feature to the combination of laundering machines of the past art.

f While I have disclosed a preferred form of my invention, substitution of mechanical equivalents for the connecting gearing, and other common mechanisms shownzin the drawings, and of various heating devices for the roll (22) are to be considered within the scope of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A laundering machine including a roll- Irame, Journal bearings mounted at opposite ends of said roll-frame, laundering rolls journaled in said bearings, the bearings for one of said rolls being each composed of separable parts, a spring abutting one part of each of said bearings, a plate abutting each of said springs, a cam abutting each of said plates, and operatively connected to said cams and a `handle mounted on said roll-frame` and being movable in one direction to permit separation of said parts and in the opposite direction for operating said cams to reassemble the journal bearings.

2. A laundering machine including a rollframe, journal bearings mounted at opposite ends of said roll-frame, laundering' rolls journaled in said bearings. the bearings for one of said rolls being each composed ot separable parts, a spring abutting one part of each ot said bearings, a plate abutting each of said springs, a cam abutting each of said plates, and a handle. connected to each of said cams and pivotally mounted on said roll-frame and being movable in one direction to permit separation of said parts and in the oposite direction to reasscmble the journal bearings, each of said arms; being longitudinally adjustable with respect to its pivotal mounting.

3. In the combination recited in claim 2, a handle common to and connecting the said arms.

AN'romETrE W. 21mm. 

